Valve for engines.



PATBNTED JAN. 30, 1906. T. M. ANDREWS.

VALVE FOR ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

T. M. ANDREWS. VALVE FOR ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 811,117. 1 PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906. T. M. ANDREWS. VALVE FOR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1905.

4 8HEET8-HHBET 3.

PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906. T. M. ANDREWS.

VALVE FOR ENGINES. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 13, 1905 4 SHEBTS-SHEET 4.

THOMAS M. ANDREWS", OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

VALVE FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 1906.

Application filed July 13, 1905. Serial No. 269,483-

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMAs M. Anonnws, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson, State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Engines,of which the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to valves for controlling steam or other engines,and has for its object to provide in connection with a pair of steam orother engines arranged on the same shaft a rotary valve adapted tocontrol both engines simultaneously, so that when desired the steam orother driving medium may be admitted to both engines to drive them inthe same direction, or the supply of steam may be cut off or restrictedor the direction of retation of the engines may be reversed.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the combination,with a pair of engines arranged on the same shaft, of a rotarycontrolling-valve having ports arranged, as hereinafter described, sothat when turned to one position steam may be admitted, to the enginesto drive them in one direction, and

when turned to another position steam will be admitted to the engines todrive them in the opposite direction, and when turned to a thirdposition the steam will be cut off from the engines.

While the valve which forms the subject of this application may beadapted to engines of various construction, I have here shown anddescribed it as used in connection with a pair of rotary engines of thegeneral type shown in the patent granted to me June 30, 1903, No.732,671.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view on thevertical plane of the center of the shaft, the plane being indicated onFig. 2 by the line a a. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the verticalplane indicated by line b b of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a crosssectional viewon the vertical plane indicated by line 0 c of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is across-sectional view on the horizontal plane indicated by the line (1 dof Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view on the same plane as that ofFig. 4 with the valve-plug removed to show the arrangement of the partsin the casing. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the valve andits shell,on an enlarged scale, taken on the planesindicated by lines 6and f, respectively, of Fig. 3. Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views taken onplanes indicated by lines 9 and h, respectively, of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is across-sectional view of the valve and its shell, taken on the plane oflinefo'l' Fig. 3, showing the valve in its second or reversing positionand showing in dotted lines the passages 42 43 of the rear portion ofthe valve. Fig. 1 1 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 10, butshowing in dotted lines the passages 44 45 of the forward portion of thevalve; and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view on the plane of line h ofFig. 3, showing in dotted lines the passages 44 45 of the rear portionof the valve.

In the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical casing having outer heads 2. Acentral partition 2 separates the casing into two cylinders. Apower-shaft 3 is carried in bearings arranged above the centers of theheads 2, the shaft also having a bearing in the partition 2. Within eachof the cylinders and secured to the power-shaft and concentric therewithis a piston-disk 5, having oppositely-extended openings 6, in which arecarried piston-wings 7 and 8. The corresponding piston-wings ol' the twocylinders are arranged at approximately an angle of ninety degrees toeach other, so that, as hereinafter described, as a piston-wing of onecylinder is passing the escape-outlet the corresponding piston-disk ofthe other cylinder is in position to be acted on by steam admitted toits cylinder. The openings 6 in the piston-disk, in which thepiston-wings 7 and 8 are carried, are arranged diametrically opposite toeach other. In the face of the piston-disk of each of the cylinders isformed the oppositely-located eccentric grooves 9 and 10. These groovesare so located that they have their greatest depth at pointsintermediately between the openings 6 and taper in both directions fromthese points. As the corresponding piston-wings of the two cylinders arearranged at an angle of ninety degrees to each other, it follows thatthe grooves 9 and 10 of the piston-disk of one cylinder will be arrangedat approxi mately an angle of ninety degrees to the correspondinggrooves of the piston-disk of the other cylinder.

The piston-wings 7 and 8 are provided, preferably on each side neartheir inner ends, with pins 11, which carry curved guides 12, whichtravel in grooves 13, formed in the inner faces of the heads 2 and inthe opposite sides of the partition 2 concentric with the innerperiphery of the cylinders, but eccentric to the bearings 4. Thepiston-wings are provided at their outer ends with a packing, preferablyconsisting of a plate 14, springpressed outward to make a tight jointwith the inner periphery of the cylinders.

The cylinders are each provided with inlet-ports 15 16 for the admissionof the steam or other motor fluid and outlet-ports 17 18, the inlet-port15 and the outlet-port 17 being used when the engine is driven in onedirection and the inlet 16 and outlet 18 being used when the engine isto'be driven in the other direction, the admission of the steam or othermotor fluid to the inlet-ports and its escape from the outlet-portsbeing controlled by the valve which forms the subject-matter of thisapplication. Between the inlet-ports 15 and 16 in each cylinder islocated a valve 19, provided with an extension 20, whichis adapted toextend into the grooves 9 and 10 of the pistondisks 5, the rotation ofthe piston-disks serving to reciprocate the valves 19 to control theadmission of the motor fluid to the respective cylinders. The valves 19reciprocate in passages 21, formed in the cylinders. the passages 21, inwhich the valves 19 reciprocate, and in line with the partition 2between the two cylinders is a casing 22, preferably formed integrallywith the cylinders and having therein a cylindrical opening 23,communicating by passages or ports 24 25 with the passages 21, in whichthe valves 19 are located, the passages or ports 24 25 being controlledby the valves 19.

26 is a steamchest into which the passages 21 open at their upper endand through which steam is supplied, as hereinafter described.

27 is the inlet-pipe for admitting steam or other motor fluid to thesteam-chest.

Within the cylindrical opening 23 in the casing 22 is a shell or liningformed in two parts 28 29, connected by ring 30. The forward part 28 isprovided near its forward end with an upper port or opening 31,communieating with the escape-pipe 32 and with two openings 33 34 onopposite sides below the plane of the center. It is also provided nearits rear end with two openings 35 36 on opposite sides below the planeof its center. The rear part 29 of the shell is provided with similarports or openings 31, 33, 34, 35, and 36, except that they are reverselylocated, the ports or openings 31, 33, and 34 being near the rear endand the ports or openings 35 and 36 being near its forward end. Theports 33 34 of the forward part 28 communicate with passages 18, leadingfrom the outlet-ports 18 of the two cylinders, and the ports 33 34 ofthe rear part 29 communicate with the passages 17 leading from theoutlet-ports 17 of both cylinders. The ports 35 36 of the forward part28 communicate with passages leading to the inlet-ports 15, and theports 35 Between 36 of the rear part communicate with the inlet-ports16.

Within the shell 28 29 is located a valve comprising a forward part 40and a rear part 41, the forward part being adapted to rotate within theforward part 28 of the shell and the rear part 41 being adapted torotate in the rear part 29 of the shell. The forward part 40 is providednear its forward end in line with the ports 31, 33, and 34 of the part29 of the shell with passages 42 43, uniting at their upper ends anddiverging at their lower ends, their lower ends being so spaced thatwhen the valve is in one position they will be in register with theports or openings 33 and 34 and at the same time their united upper endswill be in register with the port or opening 31. Toward its rear thepart 40 is provided in line with the ports or openings 35 36 withpassages 44 45, leading inward and thence leading rearward and openingat their rear ends into the space between the two parts 40 and 41 of thevalve. The passages are so located in the part 40 that when the valve isturned to its second position their forward ends will be in registerwith the ports or open ings 35 36. Also in line with the ports oropenings 35 36 the forward part 40 is provided with passages 46 47,leading inward and thence forward and communicating with the passages 4243. The rear ends of these passages 46 47 are so located that when thevalve is in its first position they will bein register, respectively,with the ports or openings 35 36. The rear part 41 of the valve isprovided with similar passages 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 47, except thatthese passages are reversely arranged, the passages 42 43 being near therear end of the part 41 and the peripheral openings of the passages 4445 and 46 47 be ing toward the forward end of the part 41.

The peripheral openings of the several passages 42, 43, 44, 45, and 4647 of the two parts 40 and 41 are not in line but the peripheralopenings of the passages 42 43 of one part are in line with theperipheral openings of passages 44 45 of the other part, so that whenthe peripheral openings of the passages 42 43 of one part are in linewith ports or openings 33 34 of the corresponding part of the shell theperipheral openings of passages 44 45 of the other part of the valvewill be in register with the ports or openings 35 36 of the other partof the shell.

The parts 40 and 41 are spaced apart in any convenient manner, as by abar or block 48, which serves as a partition between the ends of thepassages 44 45, and are held in position in the parts 28 29 of the shellby rings 49, which also serve as packings to prevent leakage of steambetween the parts of the valve and the parts of the shell in which theyare located.

For the purpose of rotating the valve a shaft or rod 50 extends throughboth parts 40 and 41 and is provided on its forward end with a wheel orhandle 51 for convenience in operating the valve. A suitable packing-box52 surrounds the rod 50 near its outer end to prevent leakage.

While I prefer to use the shell 28 29, as above described, it should beunderstood that this may be dispensed with.

When it is desired to drive the engine forward, the valve 40 41 is sorotated by means of the wheel or handle 51 that the peripheral openingsof the passages 44 45 of the forward part 40 of the valve will be inregister with the ports or openings 35 36 of the forward part of theshell leading to the inlet-ports 15 of the cylinders, and the peripheralopenings of the passages 42 43 of the rear part 41 of the valve will bein register with the ports or openings 33 34 leading from theoutlet-ports 1.7 of the cylinders. Steam or other motor fluid from thesteam-chest 26 through one or the other of ports 53 as it is uncoveredby the downward movement of one of the valves 19 and through the passage44 or 45, as the case may be, passes through the port or open ing 33 or34, as the case may be, into the inlet 15 of one'or the other of thecylinders, and by its action against the wings or pistons 6 7 1'0- tatesthe piston-carrier, and with it the engine-shaft. As the shaft carryingthe piston carriers rotates, the valve 19, which was first in depressedposition, is lifted, cutting off the supply of steam from its cylinder,and the valve 19 of the other cylinder is allowed to descend, uncoveringthe port 53, through which steam enters, and through the passage 45 or44 enters the inlet 15 of the other cylinder. As soon as thepiston-carrier is rotated sufliciently to carry the wing or piston 6 or7 past the port 17 the steam escapes through this port and through thepassage 17, the port or opening 33 or 34, as the case may be, and thepassage 42 or 43, as the case may be, out through the port or opening 31into the rear escape-pipe. Any steam which may be in advance of the wingor piston 8 after it passes the outlet-port 17 will escape through theinlet-ports 16, the ports or openings 35 36, the passages 46 47, intothe passages 42 43 of the part 41 of the valve. When it is desired toreverse the engine, the wheel or handle 51 is turned to rotate the parts40 and 41, so that the passages 42 43 of the forward part 40 willcommunicate with the passage 18 of the outlet-port 18 and the passages44 45 of the rear part 41 will be in communication with the inlet-ports16. Steam will then enter through the inlet-ports 16 against the rearfaces of the wings or pistons 7 8, driving the pistons or wings inreverse direction.

It will of course be understood that I do not desire to be limited tothe precise construction shown and described, as the construction may bevaried without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters- Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a pair of cylinders providedwith pistoncarriers arranged on a common shaft, and each provided with apair of inlet-ports and a pair of 0utl'et-ports, of a single valveadapted when in one position to admit motor fluid to one of theinlet-ports of each cylinder, and to permit the motor fluid to escapefrom the corresponding outlet-port of each cylinder, and when in anotherposition, to permit the motor fluid to enter the other inlet-ports ofthe cylinders and to escape from the correspond ing outlet-ports.

2. I11 a rotary engine, the combination with a pair of axially-alinedcylinders each provided with a pair of inlet-ports and a pair ofoutlet-ports, of a reciprocatory valve for each cylinder, apiston-carrier in each cylinder constructed and adapted to actuate inits rotation the corresponding reciprocatory valve, a rotatable valvearranged between said reciprocatory valves and to which the latteralternately admit the motive fluid, said rotatable valve being providedwith a central aperture to which the steam is admitted and with passagesleading from said central aperture and adapted to admit steam in oneposition of said valve to one of the said ports and the other inlet-portof each. cylinder and in another position of said Valve to admit steaminto said last-mentioned inlet-port and exhaust steam from the other ofsaid outletports and said first-mentioned inlet-port.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a pair of axially alinedcylinders, a steam-chest above said cylinders, a valvecasing providedwith exhaust-ports and passages communicating with said steam-chest, apair of reciprocatory valves adapted to alternately open and close saidpassages, a pise ton-carrier in each cylinder provided with cam-surfacesadapted to actuate said valves, a rotatable valve within said casingprovided with a central aperture to which the steam is admitted and withpassages leading from said aperture and so arranged that in one positionof said valve steam is admitted into one inlet-port and exhausted fromthe other inlet-port and one outlet-port of each cylinder and in theother position of said valve steam is admitted into said last-mentionedinlet-port and exhausted from the other in let-port and the otheroutlet-port of each cylinder and manually-operable means to operate saidvalve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOS. M. ANDREWS.

Witnesses:

H. W. BRANDHORST. LEWIS B. COOK.

